Figures for 2017 have shown that Manchester recorded the highest legal services sector office take-up by square footage across the UK during 2017. Law firms accounted for 13% of office take-up in Manchester, which is higher than any other UK city and more than double the figure for central London.
The largest office transaction that took place was Clyde & Co’s acquisition of 69,000 sq ft in the Royal Exchange. The closest acquisition in terms of size was Simmons & Simmons in Bristol who signed a 12-year lease to occupy 27,000 sq ft at Finzels Reach in Bristol.
But what is making Manchester, and other areas outside of London more attractive to law firms? According to Mark Bamber from Knight Frank Manchester this is because “Manchester has the winning combination of unrivalled city centre amenities and the highest quality office stock, underpinned by the availability of highly skilled workforce, especially undergraduates from the various universities that makes it the perfect location of choice for firms wanting to grow their headquarters or expand their regional markets.”
Jennifer Townsend from Knight Frank also stated that “Continued law firm growth in the UK has been driven by confidence in continued demand for legal services against a backdrop of ongoing economic and political uncertainty.”
Here at Ambipro we are aware of, and understand, the ever-changing legal landscape in Manchester. With increased office space comes increased demand so if your looking to fill roles within your company, please give us a call and one of our recruiters will be happy to discuss your needs.
